We are home!

We didn't get kidnapped, as some have speculated, in fact we are home and adjusting to being a family and D street (Aaron's work project). Now we will be communicating by e-mail or phone. Keep in mind we don't have internet at home.

Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Geologico-Mineras

Today we went to a geology university's museum. They had a pretty good collection of rocks, minerals and fossils. Many of the specimens had similar names as in english. The specimens were from all over the world. Kaden smiled and giggled at a lot of the rocks and there was a painting of some guy that he would look at and just laugh. The guy wasn't funny looking but apparently there was something funny about him. This is a giant ground sloth . . . This is a type of mastadon . . .

This is a geologic map of the whole country (all the different colors represent different rocks and/or ages of rocks) . . .

This is Pacho . . .

We found the geologic maps in the university's library. The taxi ride home was interesting. The cab driver didn't know how to get to the address we gave him, so we got to see some more of the city. The driving here is very memorable. I am SO glad that I don't have to drive. It is amazing that there aren't more accidents, but everyone kind of moves together either passing, or driving in between lanes or passing horses and carts etc.

Monserrate

Today's adventure, after dealing with adoption stuff, . . . sorry I can't think when I am laughing at my son. He is talking as loud as he can. Okay, we went to Monserrate, a mountain next to Bogota with a church and gardens etc. on top. It is several thousand feet higher than Bogota. I got a headache pretty fast but luckily the view was amazing enough to distract me.

This is only part of the view. I knew that Bogota was big, but holy crap it's big. It is Bogota as far as the eye can see.

Magma

Aaron and his mini-me. Today was quite the day . . . Aaron went to Pacho this morning and got our final adoption decree from the courts, which means that Kaden is officially our son. Yeah! While in Pacho he also got a new birth certificate that states Kaden's new name and says we are Kaden's parents. I ate something that didn't agree with me so wasn't feeling well. When Aaron came home, he wasn't feeling well either but he was sick because of the 4 hours in the car on curvy, potholed roads. We figured that since we each felt sick, together we would count as one person who was feeling okay so that we could continue the tasks for the day. We went and got Kaden's passport, it took less than an hour total. I think mine took about 3 months to get. Then we went to see a doctor who said Kaden's coloring looked good and we were done for the day. Those four things are major steps in this process, so we are almost done. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed!

Adoption Decree

This morning Aaron and I were talking about how we really need to get out and see the sights here as we don't really know how much time we have until we get busy with paperwork. An hour later we got a call that we might be able to get our adoption decree soon, which means the paperwork begins. We are very excited but still a bit confused about the whole process, so cross your fingers that all will work out.

Sunday's Adventure

Yesterday we went to the Salt Cathedral. It is a small part of a very large salt mine that has been mined for hundreds of years. The Cathedral and all the tunnels were huge, it is hard to picture that it is just a small part of the mine. As you walk through the tunnels there are the stations of the cross (like the two below) all carved in the salt leading to the main chapel . . .

They even had a movie theater, cafe and a gift shop below ground. The picture below is a reflecting pool near the cafe . . .

Near the main chapel there were intricate carvings in the salt like the nativity below . . .

We saw two salt angels in the tunnels . . .

It was a very cool experience, not just because of all the efforts to make a cathedral underground but to be in a salt mine ;>) Kaden even liked it. He stayed awake for most of it, just looking around.

Happy 4th of July!

This morming we walked to Usaquen, a small town that got incorporated into Bogota. We all really liked its narrow streets, central plaza, churches and clock towers. I really liked a flower shop (I am sick of smelling baby spit up and poop) so I got 25 fragrant roses for less than $7.50. It is surprising to see horses and carts in a metropolitan area of over 8 million people but we see and hear several every day.

This morning we also went to Hacienda Santa Barbara, an old country mansion, that has been converted to a mall. It still has stonework, courtyards with fountains and gardens etc. Aaron hasn't gotten to try much coffee down here so we stopped at a coffee shop. It is actually easier in the US to find Colombian coffee. I have seen a blackberry (mora) pastry at several locations and today I got one and went to heaven. It was similar to a sugar cookie with blackberry pie filling on top. Mmmm!

Yesterday morning we had our Integration meeting, where several people from Pacho came down to Bogota to see how Kaden was doing. They said that everything was fine and said a tearful goodbye to Kaden. The social worker has known Kaden since he was 35 minutes old, her boss named him Camilo, and the nutritionist breast fed him and had considered adopting him but she had her own new baby to deal with. Anyway, he was loved by those who knew him. They told us that several of their co-workers wanted to have babies because of him. We happen to be fond of him too! :>)